Buckeyes add big man to 2015 hoops class

Jul. 7, 2014

Written by

CentralOhio.com

COLUMBUS — Thad Matta’s basketball program set off its own fireworks over the holiday weekend.

The Ohio State boss received a verbal commitment from Marietta, Georgia, high school center Daniel Giddens. The 6-foot-10, 235-pound rim protector, rated one of the nation’s top 50 overall talents, announced he will join the 2015 recruiting class. Giddens is a shot-blocking demon with a high motor who also wields the lost art of outlet passing.

His offense can be spotty, and he’s not a low-post scorer at the moment, but he can get to the offensive glass and knows how to finish in traffic.

Giddens could be in contention for McDonald’s All-American status if he shows offensive improvement his senior season. He is the latest in a remarkable run of big men Matta has lured to Columbus, including Greg Oden, Kosta Koufos, B.J. Mullens, Jared Sullinger and Amir Williams. Only Williams, barring a dramatic senior season, has failed to live up to billing.

Giddens is the fourth member of a class that is rated No. 2 in the nation, behind Syracuse, according to 247Sports.com. He’ll join 6-5 shooting guard Austin Grandstaff, of Rockwall, Texas (near Dallas); 6-8 forward Mickey Mitchell, of Plano, Texas; and 5-9 point guard A.J. Harris, of Dayton Dunbar. All three are rated as top 100 players by at least one recruiting service.

Grandstaff is considered one of the country’s best shooters and is a top 30 talent. Mitchell was rated a top 10 player after a spectacular freshman season, but repeated injuries to his leg and back curtailed his past two seasons. When healthy, he flashed point-forward skills as a playmaker and electric passer.

Harris is the lowest-rated member of the group but has excellent quickness and ballhandling skills.

Matta could use another scholarship this year if he chooses, with two Ohio forwards showing interest. Esa Ahmad, a 6-8 Shaker Heights product poured in 26 points per game last season and has seen his ranking skyrocket nationally with a big AAU spring. Carlton Bragg, a 6-9 power forward from Cleveland Villa Angela-St. Joseph is rated a top 20 prospect.

Ahmad has said he’ll decide before school starts, while Bragg may not make a decision until after his senior season. The Buckeyes are among the favorites for Ahmad, while Bragg reportedly also is considering Kentucky and Kansas.

Ohio State also can bank the scholarship for the following season, when a trio of in-state talents become available, including 6-6 Akron guard V.J. King; 6-9 power forward Omari Spellman, of North Royalton; and 6-9 center Derek Funderburk, of state champion Lakewood St. Edward.

The Buckeyes’ incoming freshman class was completed last month when highly-touted D’Angelo Russell finally received NCAA Clearinghouse acceptance to join his classmates at Ohio State.

The 6-5 Russell, a Louisville native, was a McDonald’s All-American as a high school senior, and some speculate the lefty could be an immediate starter. He joins incoming freshmen Keita Bates-Diop, a 6-7 forward from Normal, Illinois; Jae’Sean Tate, a 6-5 dynamo from Pickerington; and 6-9 Garfield Heights center David Bell. They were rated the nation’s sixth best recruiting class by ESPN.

While the ratings merely are numbers and provide fun for the recruitniks, Giddens’ commitment does put Matta in position to be picky with his available scholarships.

The Buckeyes are not looking at a void anywhere on the roster — now or in the future. That’s an enviable position for any coach.

Larry Phillips is the sports editor for the Media Network of Central Ohio. He can be reached at lbphillips@nncogannett.com or by calling 419-521-7238. Follow him on Twitter at @OhioPrepLegends.